I'm addicted to sugar. If I stop eating it will the weight fall off?

[RedNailsAndRedDress]

As in the title really!

I have an extremely sweet tooth and am now a good three stone oversight

My main meals are always completely healthy. it's just sugar in the crap afterwards that is my downfall. If I cut it out then will the weight fall off?

[KindDogsTail]

I'm wondering if low sugar would tie in with a SW or WW way of eating

I think not well.

Low sugar and low carbohydrates (sugar in another form), means you need some healthy oils - avocados, nuts, olive oil, etc. These look high in calories to WW and SW and may look like high in points. The difference is that after eating them in moderation, combined with very little sugar, you would not feel hungry or have cravings and would eat less overall. Your metabolism would be functioning differently.

[oldlaundbooth]

Instead of WW or SW you'd be better off looking into low carb. There's threads on here that are really informative

[msrisotto]

I don't know much about WW or SW but I think they promote reduced fat alternatives which invariably have added sugar to make up for it. Dietary fat doesn't turn into bodily fat and actually helps you feel full so reducing fat from a yoghurt but adding sugar is nonsense.

[rookiemere]

I stopped eating most forms of refined sugar about 4 months ago for health reasons. So basically I don't eat cakes, chocolate, honey, processed foods with too much sugar, fruit juices, muesli etc. Initially I lost a half stone very quickly, but then I replaced the sugars with nuts and cheese so I've gained a little back again. Also I gave up alcohol for about a month, but am definitely back on the wine.

I generally eat wholegrain versions of things anyway and I now find I don't get the low mood and concentration drops where I felt really dizzy hardly at all, except perhaps if I have a bread based lunch with not enough protein.

I didn't follow any diet books. I just check the sugar content of everything now. If I want dessert I'll have plain yoghurt with strawberries/raspberries. I also tend not to eat things with artificial sweeteners as apparently they also make the body crave sugar.

So in short I'd definitely give it a go. Even if you don't lose masses of weight, you'll feel a lot better for it and my tummy has lost that bloated look and I've regained my hourglass shape.

[TrainsCanComeTrue]

I did no sugar or snacks for two weeks. Made no difference and I was eating drastically different than before. Maybe I didn't try for long enough.

[threelittlerapscallions]

I was not medically overweight but had just had baby 3 and had a few pounds I thought needed losing. So I gave up sugar ad wow I never need to watch what I eat now can eat anything and never put on weight. I am 40 and wish I had given up sugar sooner as I feel so much more energetic and get fewer headaches (which I used to suffer from).

[Tanaqui]

It would fit with the old slimming world red days but I don't know about nowadays.

Want2be, am I right that you are in the states? Can you get proper seeded bread, like Vogels soya and linseed that is more protein dense than usual bread? Start with maybe swapping to that, and always eat your bread and milk with some kind of protein; then your blood sugars should start to be more even and you can start to cut back.

Any low carb diet will have the same affect- Atkins, the idiot proof, the blood sugar diet.

Supposedly it is good for skin too!

[marvelousdcomics]

I need to cut down too. I'm exactly the same as you. I eat healthy throughout the day, then I get home from work and....... Sugar is my best friend. Packets of biscuits/chocolate/ice cream etc Always feel grim the morning after but can never manage NOT to eat it

[KindDogsTail]

Trains
I did no sugar or snacks for two weeks. Made no difference and I was eating drastically different than before. Maybe I didn't try for long enough

Were you having wine, fruit juice, lots of coffee, bread, starchy vegetables, rice, pasta, porridge or sweet fruits?

Were you under a lot of stress? Or, not getting sleep?

If none of these, were the portions large, especially with too much cheese or fatty meat

If you look at the Blood Sugar Diet by MM a lot is explained..

[msrisotto]

I would say 2 weeks is definitely not long enough

[RedNailsAndRedDress]

Going to look up that Blood Sugar diet book now I have realised it's about blood sugar not blood types! That'll serve me right for speed reading!

[TrainsCanComeTrue]

Thanks KindDogs I'll try again and keep a better eye on those things, and for longer msrisotto! I was just a bit frustrated and disheartened by the fact that I must have been eating much better, smaller portions no snacks etc and it didn't seem to make any difference in that time.

[RedNailsAndRedDress]

Yes, I'm just the same. I expect instant results without realising it's taken me about eight years to get to this stage! Yet when "on a diet" if I don't see a 4lb loss by the end of week two I instantly declare the "diet isn't working!"

[SixtiesChildOfWildBlueSkies]

RedNails re this ^ post. This is why I don't bother weighing myself much I think it focuses too much on one thing rather than the whole issue . I can tell better by the way my clothes loosen, and by the way I feel.

[vshah140113]

Me too definitely have a sweet tooth and it's the reason I can never lose weight
Following

[quirkychicken]

not in my experience :(

[RocketQueenP]

I cut down a lot on dairy and sugar a few months ago and lost about 7lbs just from doing that. Also found my tummy was flat which after 3 kids is no mean feat

However I have no willpower particularly with alcohol so its gone back on :D

[TrainsCanComeTrue]

I've bought the blood sugar diet book. Will read this weekend, then I am starting!

Weirdly Christmas is not a particularly drinky / foody time for me so I should be ok.

[shovetheholly]

I don't understand the sugar thing. Surely it means you have to give up all carbohydrate, since it is metabolised to the same thing? How is that even possible - I'm not just talking about living entirely without bread, pasta, potatoes, but about the amounts of carbohydrate in things like fruit and veg? What can you eat except steak and eggs?

[kateandme]

you need a balance.there are the food groups so you can have a bit of each in balance.some more than others but all in moderation.
if you give them up your punishing yourself.why? they aren't bad. you just need lots less than other foods. y oushouldnt say no to yummy things you enjoy.just have them in a reasonable way.then feel good because you had a nice amount.
eat sweetness in other things like veggies.and bright coloured fruity bits.
don't say no.deny. your human and lovely and good and deserve nice bits. just try your bes to look up wha the best amounts are then stick with them.in blance.healthy is being alive.balancing food.enjoying it because your loving it healthily.

[TrainsCanComeTrue]

Totally agree kate. But at the moment I'm hurting myself through being dramatically overweight. So first I'm going to kick start some changes, and then work towards that sort of balanced lifestyle once I'm in a normal weight range.

[DistanceCall]

This distinction between "healthy" and "unhealthy" food is ridiculous and damaging. You need food of every kind, in moderation: protein, carbohydrates, fat, sugars. If you think, I don't know, that wholewheat pasta is "healthy" and eat lots of that, you will put on weight.

You lose weight by eating less, basically. Try to get plenty of fruit and vegetables and protein in there, of course (as that's what's lacking in most British diets). But cutting back calories is essentially the way to do it.

[DistanceCall]

By the way, I have a sweet tooth too, and the way to deal with that is to include it in your "calorie budget". One Kit Kat bar is 213 calories, for example. So you count them in and adjust accordingly (for example, you have one KitKat bar after a salad for lunch).

[PickAChew]

shove the problem for me - and for a lot of people - is the "addictive" nature of sugar. Despite not having a sweet tooth when I was younger, I'd reached a point where I'd have a biscuit, or even a crumpet with a little jam, and continuously crave more, afterwards, or give myself the shakes. The ridiculous thing was that I'd have some chocolate or a pastry and not even really enjoy it.

It didn't take me long to train myself out of that again. I've realised that chocolate doesn't really agree with me, anyhow and the gooey iced cakes that were on offer at a meeting, last week, truly turned my stomach to even look at and smell. That said, I've just had a nice little piece of fruit cake with a cuppa and some paracetamol because I'm full of cold and ache all over and actually felt like I needed a bit of a boost. This time last year, I'd have been contemplating another piece, but I'm more than satisfied with what I've had. Probably partly because I'd just had a fish finger sandwich (many fish fingers, well stacked, one slice of seedy bread) for my lunch so wanted cake because I wanted cake, rather than because I had the munchies.

[May50]

I'm planning to do this from 1 Jan - (I always start with good intentions every New year!) - plan to cut out sugar, alcohol and white carbs. I need to lose between one and two stone - I also have no willpower, but once I get on track hopefully it will become habit.